Chapter 56: Since Ancient Times, Deep Affection Has Only Left Behind Regrets

On Saturday evening, at the City Arts Center, Bai Shunan arrived early.

She was busy both in front of and behind the stage, arranging for reporters and assisting with crowd control.

Ling Feng and Ni Xianglei also came; it was Bai Shunan who had mobilized them to come, and she even gave them prime seats for the best view.

Watching Bai Shunan so busy, Ling Feng sat in the front row, crossing his legs, and sighed lightly, "Since ancient times, deep affection has only left behind regrets; this regret is endless and knows no end."

Ni Xianglei said, "Indeed. Fortunately, my focus is on my career now; matters of the heart are the most exhausting."

This performance hall, which could accommodate 3,000 people, was soon filled with people.

A portion of them were company employees and their family members. Some of them did not want to come; they were already tired from work, and after getting home, they just wanted to scroll through TikTok or watch online streamers. However, the Secretary had instructed that they must come, and if they came, each person would get a 200-yuan bonus at the end of the month, with an extra 200 for bringing a family member. Some people even brought their 90-year-old grandmothers from home.

One 90-year-old grandmother was sitting right behind Ling Feng, shouting at the top of her lungs, "What kind of performance is this?"

"Grandma, I've told you several times, this is a violin recital."

Five minutes later, the grandmother shouted again at the top of her lungs, "Grandson, what kind of performance did you bring me to see?"

"Grandma, I already said it's a violin."

"I want to watch Railway Guerrilla."

"There isn't one!"

"..."

After the venue, lighting, accompaniment, and everything else were all prepared, Mo Wanqing finally made a leisurely entrance.

Gu Yunting came along as well.

Seeing the hall filled with people, Mo Wanqing was very moved. With tears in her eyes, she said to Gu Yunting, "Brother Yunting, I really didn't expect that so many people would like my concert!"

Gu Yunting glanced at the audience in the hall; there were old people and young children, and even some mothers who had brought their babies who were only two months old.

Afterward, he glanced at Bai Shunan, who was still backstage holding a walkie-talkie and arranging things.

Gu Yunting's heart felt inexplicably sour at that moment; he knew that it hadn't been easy for Bai Shunan.

But as long as Mo Wanqing was happy, he would do anything.

The concert officially began.

Mo Wanqing first gave a speech on stage, introducing her background, saying that she had started learning the violin at the age of three and it had already been 24 years. She was well-versed in classical music and could play the music of Schumann, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and others.

After Mo Wanqing finished speaking, Bai Shunan used the walkie-talkie backstage to tell the emcee, "Get the audience to applaud!"

The emcee, who had almost fallen asleep, snapped to attention and said into the microphone, "And now, let us use warm applause to invite Miss Mo Wanqing to begin her performance!"

The audience below had been told in advance that if the applause was warm, they could get a small gift after the concert ended.

Therefore, the scene was filled with thunderous applause.

Mo Wanqing stood on stage and began her performance.

Many people in the audience didn't understand it; they just felt the performance was very high-class, after all, there was an entire orchestra, and every member of the orchestra was wearing a suit, very formal.

It was just that as they played, some people fell asleep.

The 90-year-old grandmother couldn't hear clearly either and kept asking, "What is she performing?"

"Grandma, I already said it's a violin."

"I want to watch Railway Guerrilla."

"Grandma, there isn't one."

Some of the mothers who brought their babies could listen, but the babies in their arms cried and needed to be fed, so they had to go back.

Before leaving, they still had to ask the people next to them, "If we leave early, is there still money to collect?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, the mothers left with peace of mind.

There were also some elementary school students who had come with their parents; some fell asleep while listening, and some couldn't sit still and started playing inside the venue, and when they played to their heart's content, they started running around.

Bai Shunan used the walkie-talkie again to send people to manage order at the scene.

Ling Feng, sitting in the front row, yawned and asked, "Leizi, you know more about music than I do, how is this Mo Wanqing's level?"

Ni Xianglei said, "Her professional level is very high, but she lacks any unique character. After all, there are many people in this circle with high professional levels. Plus, she isn't an original performer. This kind of conventional performance relies on audience appeal; as the saying goes, great fame depends on fate, minor fame depends on promotion, and forced promotion invites divine retribution."

"I think so too."

Finally, the two hours were over.

Mo Wanqing glanced at the audience; most people were drowsy, and those who weren't asleep had almost no energy left, leaning lazily on their seats, their souls seemingly drifting away.

Mo Wanqing had long been used to this situation.

But she still had something to say.

She said in a gentle voice, "I am very grateful to everyone for coming to attend my concert. The reason this concert could be held successfully is also thanks to my boyfriend; my boyfriend is Gu Yunting."

The venue instantly erupted.

Compared to listening to a concert, people were more enthusiastic about hearing gossip.

"President Gu? Her boyfriend is actually our President Gu!"

"No wonder there was money given out for coming to listen to the concert. I guessed at the time it was some shareholder's daughter or something; I didn't expect it to be President Gu's girlfriend!"

"It's a good thing we came, otherwise I'm afraid we'd be fired tomorrow."

"..."

Backstage, Gu Yunting froze after hearing Mo Wanqing's words. He hadn't expected Mo Wanqing to announce their relationship at this time.

For some reason, he actually looked toward Bai Shunan.

Bai Shunan was still backstage coordinating and busy; she didn't look at him at all, as if she hadn't heard Mo Wanqing's words.

Mo Wanqing, at the front of the stage, said again, "At such a romantic moment, I would like to invite my boyfriend to come up, and we can express our gratitude to everyone present together."

Gu Yunting sat motionless backstage.

From the time Mo Wanqing returned to the country until now, he had been excited; he wanted to pursue her again, but she was always cold and indifferent toward him, so he wondered if he wasn't good enough, and thus he treated her twice as well.

But now that Mo Wanqing had finally acknowledged him and even invited him to go on stage with her, logically speaking, he should have been moved.

However, he could not feel much joy in his heart.

Could it be that, just as Bai Shunan said, he was a scumbag to begin with?

The people at the front desk had not waited for Gu Yunting to come up, and they were all craning their necks in anticipation.

But Mo Wanqing was not anxious at all; she raised the microphone again and said in a gentle voice, "My boyfriend might be a bit shy, which is why he hasn't come up yet. So, I will take this opportunity to confess to him once more: Yunting, you are my childhood sweetheart, the person I have liked since I was small. I admit that while I was pursuing my ideals, I briefly left you behind, but thank you for never leaving or giving up on me, and thank you for loving me so much! Are you willing to accept someone like me again?"

The applause at the scene erupted once more.

Only then did Gu Yunting walk onto the stage and embrace Mo Wanqing affectionately.

Bai Shunan, who was busy working, turned around, and a clear tear fell from the corner of her eye.

It was already 12 o'clock at night; Bai Shunan watched as the entire scene was cleared away before she finally left.

Ling Feng and Ni Xianglei had not left yet; Ling Feng leaned against the back of a sports car and said to Bai Shunan with a smile, "You've been busy for so long, how about we treat you to a late-night snack?"

Bai Shunan smiled faintly: "It's too late, isn't it? I still have to work tomorrow."

"If you don't have a drink, I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Bai Shunan paused and smiled: "What you say makes a lot of sense, so let's go together."